While there are a lot of tremendous seniors in the Chattanooga area and around the state of Tennessee, there are certainly very few programs regardless of sport that can boast the ability to field a full team with just its senior class.
That’s exactly what the Boyd Buchanan soccer team brings to the field this season with an extraordinary 11 seniors. Among that group is a combined 52 seasons in the Bucs’ program with eight players having played for head coach Dustin Walker for five seasons and the others playing for four.
Most of these relationships go back further than that, with Walker saying that many of these student-athletes having played together in elf league, middle school, and club soccer before their time at Boyd.
That type of cohesiveness has led this unit to the TSSAA state soccer tournament every season since they started high school.
More than their success on the field is the way they’ve become a family off of it, and Walker says the leadership and compassion the seniors have shown to the younger players and each other has been especially helpful during the difficult situation these young men are facing this season.
“I’m not sure where to start…how about peacefully wild,” Walker said when asked to describe the group as a whole. “This group of men range from college-level players to one who made a perfect score on the ACT to others that know they aren’t going to play much but just love the family culture that we have.”
“They will jump in random lakes just for fun, be groomsmen in my wedding, show up to people’s houses when they get hurt, and wrestle anyone and everyone before practice.”
“They love each other, and have worked extremely hard for each other. Throughout all that we’ve gone through this season, they’ve stayed hopeful.”
Seth Highfield (Captain): Center Midfielder
This is Highfield’s fifth year on the team and fourth as a starter. He has 45 career goals and over 75 assists, and was named to the All-District, All-Region, and All-State teams as a junior.
“Seth is as athletic as they come,” Walker said. “He’s as quick and dangerous as anyone in the state right now. He can score, but he loves to set people up. His workrate is truly unmatched.”
“As a person, he’s both wild and kind. He rides dirt bikes and loves making his car fast, but he has one of the best hearts for people. Seth treats everyone kindly, no matter their background or what the situation is.”
Highfield has offers from several colleges, and plans to continue his soccer career at the next level. However, he tore his ACL during the first half of Boyd’s only game this season against Baylor, which placed those decisions on hold momentarily.
Adrian Oyler (Captain): Center Back
Oyler has been on the team for five years as well, three as a starter. He has been named to the All-District and All-Region teams, and has been offered a soccer scholarship at both Averett University (Danville, VA) and King University (Briston, TN).
“Adrian is big, fast, strong, and technical, an awesome combination for a center back,” said Walker. “He is also an amazing leader, one of the best that Boyd has had in a long time. He leads in both word and deed, and shows respect to everyone.”
Playing defense, it’s hard to rack up stats, something Walker said can be tough for high school athletes. Oyler has five career goals and over 14 assists, but Walker constantly reminds his defenders that they have the most important job on the team.
Easton King (Captain): Center Back
King is yet another Buc who has been on the team for five years and started for four. He has been a captain for two years, and has been named to the All-District team. He has 10 career goals and over 21 assists.
“Easton is athletic, fast, and smart,” Walker said. “He is a true leader on and off the field; people look to Easton in all aspects to lead them. Even when he had a back injury that sidelined him for 90 percent of his junior year, he was still there to encourage and motivate the guys.”
King is an avid wakeboarder, and hopes to start a wakeboard club at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he will begin attending in the fall.
Riley Beavers (Captain): Left Outside Back
Beavers has also been on the team for five years, started for three, and has been named to the All-District team. He has three career goals and nine assists, and is also the Bucs’ drum major. He will attend the University of Tennessee in the fall.
Said Walker: “Riley is one of the smartest players I’ve ever coached. Having never played before, he picked up soccer after I saw him messing around with friends on the field after school. Three years later he is starting for a varsity team in the state tournament.”
“He’s as talented as they come, yet one of the most humble people I know. He is definitely confident in who he is, but you would never catch him bragging to anyone. In fact, he is always building his teammates up.”
Harrison VanEaton (Captain): Goalkeeper
VanEaton has been a Buc for five years, and is in his third season starting in the net. He has 38 career shutouts, and has been named to the All-District team. He had a number of schools interested in him as a college soccer player, however, Walker said he is probably going to either Western Kentucky or UTC.
“He’s big, agile, and a great communicator,” said Walker. “He’s also hilarious; he is one of the reasons our team gels the way it does. He is funny at the right time, a light-hearted communicator, and a great example to the young guys.”
Walker also said that VanEaton and King are “two of the best dancers this side of the Mississippi.”
Trevor McDaniel: Outside Midfielder
McDaniel has been on the team for five years and a starter for two. He just signed to play at Covenant College, where his dad, Sean, also played.
“Trevor is a born leader and a great communicator,” Walker said. “He has such a high soccer IQ and is a great teammate and friend. Playing at Covenant like his dad has always been a dream of his.”
Tejit Pamdidi: Forward
Pamdidi has been on the team for four years, and in addition to playing soccer is incredibly intelligent. He made a perfect 36 on the ACT, which has opened up a number of college options that he is still deciding between.
“Tejit has the heart of a lion,” said Walker. “He truly puts the team and his teammates above himself. He serves and loves his teammates so well everyday.”
Bo Healy: Outside Back/Winger
In his fourth season on the team, Healy scored the game-winning goal last year to put Boyd into the Elite Eight. He will be attending Ole Miss in the fall.
Said Walker: “Bo has an amazing work ethic; he worked as hard as anyone to earn a starting spot this year. He put in the hours before and after school to get faster and stronger, and I am so proud of him for that.”
“Bo makes Boyd Buchanan one of the most fun places in the state to play soccer. He is mature enough to read the temperature of the team and know when he needs to be serious or when the team needs to laugh. That quality is irreplaceable.”
Luke Tucker: Center Back
Tucker has been on the team for five years and plans on majoring in engineering at either UTC or UTK.
“Luke is as tough as nails,” said Walker. “He has had multiple surgeries throughout his career, most of which would have given anyone a very legit reason to quit, but not Luke. He’d rehab and work his way back before getting injured again, but he always kept an amazing and encouraging attitude and start rehabbing again.”
Jacob Sanders: Forward
Sanders has been on the soccer team for four years, but this is his 16th year at Boyd. He plans to go to a trade school to become an electrician.
“Regardless of how much playing time Jacob has gotten, he always shows up ready to do his part for the team,” Walker said. “He’s light-hearted and makes the team laugh, but he is also a very hard worker and likes to push guys to be their best.”
Riley Summerall: Outside Back
Summerall has been on the team for five years and is in his second season as a starter. He has five career goals and seven assists, and will be going to UTK in the fall.
Said Walker: “Riley has worked his way from being a starter on the JV team his sophomore year to starting every game on the varsity squad his junior season. He has a quiet determination to get better every day. He is quiet until you get to know him, and then he is hilarious. He is another player that brings so much to the team on and off the field.”
The Chattanoogan Senior Spotlight series highlights local prep seniors whose seasons have been put on hold due to the unprecedented situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are associated with a high school spring sports team and would like your seniors featured, please encourage the coach to reach out to me at kevin.llewallyn@gmail.com. Also, share this article and others like it from this series on social media using #ChattanooganSeniorSpotlight.